Saturday, 31 March 2012

How To Choose A Dance School

Well, as it's my first blog post, I might as well start at the beginning
and give some advice on choosing a dance teacher if you've never danced before!

The first thing you need to consider is "are they
qualified?" Since Strictly Come
Dancing has been on the television, ballroom and Latin dance teachers have been
springing up all over the place - trying to capitalize on its current
popularity. A qualified teacher should
know the correct technique but more importantly should have insurance in case
you have an accident whilst on the premises.
There are many professional bodies in the UK; the main ones are The UKA,
The IDTA, The ISTD and The NATD. Don’t
be afraid to ask - a qualified teacher has nothing to hide!

Secondly, location. You want
somewhere that is accessible all year round.
That drive down the country lane in the summer can be quite pleasant but
a little less appealing in the middle of winter when it's icey or snowing. Once you're there, is there sufficient
parking for everyone? You don't want to
have to get there half an hour before the start of the class just to get one of
the few parking spaces available.

Another consideration is your teacher's personality. Now you know, we can't all get on with
everyone, so give your potential dancer teacher a call and have a chat with
them. What are they like? Friendly or standoffish? Do they answer your questions clearly and concisely
or do you come away from the telephone conversation feeling confused?

Now, an important bit of advice! As
a dance teacher I get inundated with phone calls every day, from telephone
sales to people enquiring about dance styles we don't do so, do your homework! If the dance school has a website, take a look
at it. Do they teach Ballroom and
Latin? If it's up to date then there
should be a class schedule on there. If
you're enquiring about Absolute beginners classes then what night is it on? Are you able to go? It sound obvious but we currently have a
couple who can only come on a Monday to our advanced class and are totally out
of their depth! They slow the class down
and will inevitably quit because they can't keep up.

So, you've found your teacher. They
have a class on the night you want, they're just down the road and they sound
really nice on the phone. Job Done! Well, not quite. Once you start your classes you need to
ensure the content is kept basic and appropriate for complete beginners. A simple Cha Cha, basic Waltz or Social
Foxtrot routine is ideal for complete beginners. When you first start dancing, repetition is
the key so teachers should stick to a short routine with one dance per lesson
to avoid overwhelming new pupils.
Classes should be fun, light hearted with plenty of time for practise
with your partner and the opportunity to ask questions.

Ballroom and Latin dancing is an ideal way to keep fit, make new friends
and learn a skill for life. Take the
plunge - you won't regret it!

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About Me

I am an ex National Ballroom Champion. Now an Examiner, British Dance Council Adjudicator and full time ballroom and Latin coach. I teach everyone from complete beginner through to competitor and professional.